CES 2014: T-Mobile to cover early termination fees

T-Mobile is marking what it calls “un-carrier day” by making it easier to switch carriers – to T-Mobile, of course.

CEO John Legere announced at International CES on Wednesday that the company will pay early termination fees for people who ditch AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint and join T-Mobile. The plan covers up to $650, with up to $300 in credit for your working devices and $350 credit per line for fees.

Customers will have to provide evidence of their departure and a bill with the early termination fee in order to receive credit. Eligible customers will receive a prepaid MasterCard equal to the early termination fee.

“Customers tell me repeatedly, I love what you’re doing, I wish I could switch, but I’m handcuffed,” Legere said at the International CES.

T-Mobile hyped up its Wednesday announcement via Twitter as “this one you aren’t gonna believe.” That sets the bar pretty high, especially at a technology tradeshow geared toward unbelievable — and sometimes un-executable — ideas. It also ignores the announcement’s leaks.

A hot pink T-Mobile advertisement for the early termination fee offer appeared on tech websites hours before Legere took the stage, CNET reported. At that point, the ad linked to a broken page.

Rumors about the offer also made it to AT&T before CES. Reuters reported on Friday that the nation’s second largest mobile provider would give T-Mobile customers up to $450 to switch carriers. Legere responded to that promotion by calling it a “desperate move by AT&T on the heels of what must have been a terrible Q4.”

The two mobile providers aren’t just fighting over customers. On Monday, Legere showed up at an AT&T party uninvited and was escorted out. He later told reporters he attended the party to see Macklemore perform.